Louis desens



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LOUIS DESENS, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

BATHING- MACHINE.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. l15,368, dated December 6, 1864,

To all whom'flt may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUrs DEsENs, of Paris, in France, have invented a new and useful Bath or Bathing Machine Adapted for- Deep Water, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing an apparatus which, while supporting a person or persons on the surface of the water by means of air-tight balls, cork-wood, or any equivalent substance lighter than water, allows the water to pass freely through said apparatus.

uy represents a frame, made of wood or metal, forming the upper part of the apparatus; b, the lower frame, secured to the upper by rods c d, net-work enveloping the apparatus so that the water may freely pass through it; e, a sheet of strong linen supporting the person or persons bathing; j', air-tight balls supporting the apparatus afloat and secured to the same by means of a net-work, g, fastened to frame a,- h, rest for the head of the person bathing.

' The person bathing works the screw i by turning the wheel j, Vfrom which an endless chain, V7c, passes over a pulley, m, on the vertical shaft iz, connected with the screw-shaft o by means oi' suitable gearing. The shaft a turns in bearings pp, to which are fixed two treadles, t t, and also the bearing of the screwshaft. The person bathing operates the treadles with his feet one way or the other, thus turning the screw in a corresponding direction, and thereby governing the direction in which the apparatus moves. The spur k is made to abut against the frame I) when the screw-shaft has been turned one way or the other as far as it will go, for the purpose of protecting the screw from getting entangled in the net-work.

Figure 5 represents a moditication of the apparatus, the screw being arranged in the rear part of the apparatus. Fig. 7 represents another modification, the screw being replaced by two paddle-wheels, A A, and the rudder C serving to impart to the apparatus the direction desired.

The apparatus may also be propelled by means of a sail, as represented in Fig. 8. In this case the rudder C is held in bearings l by means of a spindle, D, which is also worked by treadles t t.

The net-work d may be replaced by a perforated structure of wood or thin metal, or any suitable material.

It will be understood that the apparatus can be made large enough to serve as a life- 'boat or lite-preserveri'or a number of persons.

Having described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An apparatus which, while supporting a person or persons on the surface of the water by means ofair-tight balls, cork-wood, or any equivalent substance lighter than water, allows the water freely to pass through said apparatus, in the manner above described.

In testimony whereof I Vhave signed my naine to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

L. DESENS.

Louis CLAES. 

